Means for dispensing liquids from cans



y3 c. E. WARFlELD 2,350,205

MEANS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS FROM CANS Filed 001:. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l SYWWYM Claude E. Warfield May 30, 1944. c. E. WARFIELD MEANS FOR DISPENSING LIQiJIDS FROM CANS Filed 001:. 31, 1940 2 Shee is-Shet 2 3 m Claude R. Warf-Leld 3 Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATES UPATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR DISPENSIgTG LIQUIDS FROM CAN Claude E. Warfield, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to H. L. Millie, Northfield, Minn.

Application October 31, 1940, Serial N 0. 363,644

7 Claims. 01. 222-83) My invention relates to improvements in means for dispensing liquids from cans and comprises improvements in that type of dispenser which is clamped upon sealed cans of different sizes for tapping and manipulating the same to dispense liquid contents thereof.

Previous devices of the present nature adapted to be clamped upon a can and to function as a means for manipulating the can have served to tap the can at one point for the discharge of the contained liquid and at the same time have served to pierce the can at another point to admit air thereto and thereby facilitate the dispensing of the liquid. Such previous devices have also been adjustable to accommodate cans of different sizes.

An object of my present invention is to supply a device of the present nature which is improved from the standpoints of simplicity, durability and eificiency.

Another object of my invention is to supply such a device in which the admission of air to a can, for the purpose of facilitating the dispensation of its liquid contents, is accomplished in a simple and effective manner, whereby the user, with the handle of the device in one hand, may readiy manipulate the device and the can clamped thereto and, at the same time, may control the admission of air to the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the instant character in l which a finger of the users hand, grasping the handle of the device, may be conveniently employed as a valve member in controlling the admission of air to the can being evacuated.

An additional object of the invention is to provide improved means in an adjustable device of the present kind, whereby the same may be quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate cans of diiferent sizes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and/or in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a side elevational view of a dispensing device, embodying my invention, said device being shown as clamped to a can of relatively small diameter illustrated fragmentarily in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal, sectional view of the same device adjusted to accommodate a can of relatively large diameter, such a can being shown fragmentarily in dotted lines and said device being shown in position relative to said can to be clamped thereto for tapping and admitting air to the same; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in detail taken as on the line t@ of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a similar view taken as on the line 5-5 of said Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views, it will be seen that the illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises a structure in the nature of a clamp and includes two relatively sliding parts, one, a guide In having an integral handle H thereon and also a jaw I2 fixed thereto, the other, a slide l3, slidably guided on said guide and having an integral jaw l4 thereon. The guide it, together with its integral handle I l, is struck from an elongated piece of sheet metal. Likewise, the slide [3, together with its integral jaw M, is struck from an elongated piece of sheet metal.

The guide H) is channel-shaped and has a web I5 with upstanding flanges l6 along its longitudinal edges, said flanges having inturned lips ll along the upperedges thereof. The handle I l on said guide II] is of flattened tubular form, extensions of said web [5 and flanges "5 constituting said handle. This handle I l is disposed at an angle relative to the guide I0 and. extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom, as best shown in Fig. 1. The jaw l2 comprises a depending abutment mounted on the guide It) adjacent to the junction between said guide and the handle H. Said jaw 12 includes a flange l8 secured relative to the web l5, in parallelism therewith, through the medium of a spacing block l9 fastened to said web.

The slide it, like the guide It], is channelshaped and consists of a web 20 having upturned flanges 2! at its longitudinal edges. The jaw M on said slide consists of a downturned extremity thereof, the body 22 of said jaw being a continuation of the web 20 and the reinforcing flange 23 for said jaw-body 22 being a continuation of the flanges 2! on said web 20.

The guide it telescopically receives the slide is and in the assembled relationship of said two elements. the web 2!! of the slide [3 slides along the upper surface of the web 15 of the guide ill; the flanges 2! of said slide l3 slide along the inner surfaces of the flanges [6 of said guide Ill, and the upper edges of the flanges 2| of said slide it slide along the lower faces of the retaining lips I! inturned from the flanges l6 of the guide It].

As ordinarily used, the device is disposed across the top of a can with the jaw I2 of the guide Hi and the jaw M of the slide |3 facing diametrically opposed portions of the side of the can near the top thereof. The jaw l4 carries a tapping member or tap 24 and the jaw l2 carries an air admission member 25, both members being adapted to pierce the side wall of a can as said jaws are clamped against the can by means acting through the telescoping guide l and slide l3, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

Said tapping member 24 is a longitudinally split tubular tap socketed in a boss-like sleeve 26 (Fig. 3) struck outwardly from the body 22 of the jaw |4, said tap extending inwardly from said jaw body and having its inner end cut on the bias downwardly and rearwardly to render it pointed and susceptible of piercin the wall of a can. This tubular tap 24 is formed with an external annular bead 21 forming a shoulder which abuts against the body 22 of the jaw I4 and is also formed with an opening 28 at the top thereof for the admission of air thereto. snugly encircling the tubular tap 24 is a gasket 29 of resilient material. This gasket 29 is backed against the body 22 of the jaw l4 and is held in such disposition by means of protuberances 30 pressed outwardly from the tubular tap 24 in positions to engage the front face of said gasket. A ferrule 3|, fitted over the tubular boss 26 on the jaw body 22, receives the end of a suitable dispensing spout or tube 32 which may be in the form of the flexible, metallic conduit shown in the drawings.

The air admission member 25 carried by the jaw |2 on the guide 0 consists of a tube of metal which extends through the jaw and through the handle H near its junction with said guide It]. The inner end of this air admission tube 25 projects inwardly from the face of the jaw l2 through a gasket 33 of rubber secured as by rivets 34 to said jaw and has an exposed terminal 35 which is cut on the bias downwardly and outwardly to provide a point capable of piercing the wall of a can. The outer end of said air admission tube 25 is curved upwardly and terminates slightly above the plane of the upper surface of the handle I the lip 36 of the tube at its outer open end forming a valve member or seat with which the thumb or other finger of the users' hand, grasping said handle, may cooperate, asa companion valve member, to regulate the inflow of air into and through said air ingress tube 25.

The telescoping guide l0 and slide l3 are telescoped together and extended by simple and effective clamping means now to be described, said means including a feature of adjustment. adapting the device to cans of different sizes, such for example, as the usual quart and two-quart cans. Said clamping means includes a lever 31 and a link 38, both struck from sheet metal, the link 38 being of channel-like formation consisting of an elongated web 39- and depending flanges 4|) turned downwardly from said web along the 1ongitudinal edges thereof. The lever 31 consists of a pair of arms. 4| connected together in spaced parallel relation by means of hand-piece 42 formed integrally with the outer ends of said arms. The link 38 is pivoted at its outer end to the guide H1 at the junction of said guide and handle said link being swingable to fold into position between the channels of the guide ill and slide I3. The pivotal connection provided between the link 38 and guide I0 includes a generally U-shaped bearing 43 having a base 44 and upstanding ears 45, said base 34 having an ear 75 43 issuing therefrom, the base being secured to the web l5 of the guide l3 and said ear being sccured to the extension of said web in the handle The flanges 45 of the link 33 straddle the ears 45 of the bearing 43 and a pintle 41 extending through said flanges 4|] and ears 45 pivotally connects the link 38 with the guide Ii]. Substantially midway between the ends of the link 33, the flanges 40 thereof are formed with registering bayonet slots 48 (Fig. 3) the main reaches of which extend obliquely into said flanges from the lower edges thereof and at an angle veering away from the pivoted end of the link 38, while the inner branches 49 of said slots 43 extend from the main reaches thereof in the direction of said pivoted end of said link. Near the free end of the link 38, the flanges 40 thereof are formed with registering bayonet slots 53, having branches 5|, which duplicate said first mentioned slots 48.

The lever 31- is pivoted to the slide |3 through a U-shaped bearing 52 consisting of a base 53 having upturned ears 54, said base being secured to the web 2|! of said slide I3. The arms 4| of said lever 37 fit inside of the ears 54 of said U- shaped bearing 52 and each of said arms 4! of said lever 31 is supplied with a headed stud or trunnion 55 pivoted in its respective ear 54 to swingably connect said lever 31 to said slide 3. The free end of the link 38 is freely received between the arms 4| of the lever 3! and extending from one of said arms to the other is a pin 56 which is selectively engageable in either set of bayonet slots 48, 59 in the flanges 40 of said link. To engage said pin 55 in the slots 59, the guide l0 and slide l3 are relatively extended, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the device is adapted for use in dispensing the liquid contents from a relatively large container such as a can of two quart capacity. To engage the pin 56 in the slots 48, the guide if) and slide l3 are telescoped together as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the device is adapted for use in dispensing the liquid contents from a relatively small container such as a can of one-quart capacity. In either adjustment of the lever pin 56 in the slots 48, of the link 38, the action of the lever 31 and link 38 is the same in causing the device to be clamped upon and freed from a can. This canclamping and freeing action of the device can be readily comprehended by reference to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 3 thereof, wherein the lever 31 is shown as having been swung up and back from the slide |3 to its rearward limit, which is reached upon the engagement of the hand-piece 42 of said lever 37 with the web 39 of the link 38. Upon such backward swing of the lever 31, the pin 58 passes from the main reaches of the slots 50 into the branches 5| thereof, the handle 31 and link 38 coacting in the operation to spread apart and extend said guide I0 and slide l3. With the guide l5 and slide l3 thus relatively disposed, the tips of the tap 24' and air tube terminal 35 are separated sufiiciently so that the extended device is capable of straddling the upper portion of a relatively large can, as at 51 in Fig. 3, with the guide l0 and slide |3 disposed diametrically across and resting upon the top of the can. At the outset of the return swing of the lever 31, the pin 56 recedes from the branches 5| of the slots and thence abuts against the biased edges 58 of said slots, bringing the link 38 into cooperation with the lever 31 to draw the guide l0 and slide l3 together. Continuing the return swing of said lever 31 to its ultimately closed position between the flanges of the guide l and slide 13, as shown in Fig. l, the pin 56 of the lever 31 is brought axially into substantial coplanar relationship with the axes of the pintle 41 of the link 38 and the trunnions 55 of the lever 31, thus latching the guide Ill and slide l3 against being extended. As said guide I0 and slide l3 are telescoped together, through the coaction of the lever 3'! and link 38, the tap 24 and tube termi nal 35 are caused to pierce the wall of the can at opposite sides thereof and the gaskets 29, 33, of the jaws l4, l2 carrying said tap 24 and tube terminal 35, are clamped and compressed against the can about said tap and tube, respectively. Having thus rigidly clamped the device to a can whose liquid contents is to be dispensed. the user grasps the handle I l with one hand of which the thumb or other finger is used to coact with the valve-seat 36 of the tube 25 and throttle the inthe user controls the admission of air to the can and consequently the discharge of the liquid from the spout 32, whereby, under such control, said liquid is readily dispensed from the can without spillage in its transfer to a receiver, such for example, as the oil filler tube of an automobile engine. Having tipped and drained a can of its contents with the dispensation of such contents controlled by the valving of the air admission tube 25, the device is readily removed from the can by'swinging the lever 3'! back into its unlatched position, as shown in Fig. 3, the shifting of said lever in such manner resulting in the extension of the guide Ill and slide it which is attended with the opening of the jaws l4, l2 and the withdrawal and disengagement of the tap 24 and tube terminal 35 from the pierced side wall of the can.

When the pin 56 of the lever 31 is disposed in the slots 48 of the link 38 to secure an adjustment of the device to accommodate a relatively small can (Fig. 1), the operation of said device is the same as that above described, as will readily be comprehended.

Struck down from the web i5 of the guide l8 on a line transversely thereof and near the end of said web opposite the handle I! are a pair of supporting lugs 59. These lugs are received in the usual recess at the end of a can and rest upon the top proper of the can, thus affording an intermediate support for the telescoped guide 10 and slide 13 between the supports at the rim of the can on the opposite sides thereof. This intermediate support is particularly useful in the fully extended relationship of the guide it and slide l3 (Fig. 3) by reason of its purpose in keeping the adjoining ends of said guide :6 and slide 13 from sagging into the end recess of the can. At the outset of the application of the device to a can, the guide it preferably will be disposed relative to the can with the air tube terminal against or adjacent to the side of the can with the supporting lugs 59 of the guide l3 resting upon the top proper of said can and with the web l5 of said guide resting upon the end flange of the can as shown in Fig. 3. With the guide Ill thus seated on the can, under the control afforded by the users grasp on the handle II, the slide I3 is then readily led by the lever 31 into the guide l0 without any undue friction, as otherwise might be occasioned were the adjoining ends of the guide In and slide I3 permitted to sag into the recess at the top of the can. In this connection, it is to be noted that the bearing 52, to which the lever 31 is pivoted, is secured to the inner end of the slide 13, whereby said slide is led into the guide It! without binding. Obviously, the leading of the slide l3 into the guide ill in this manner permits construction of slide and guide in minimum lengths.

Among the various advantages residing in my present invention, one of chief importance is the ready control of the admission of air to a can being evacuated of its liquid contents, whereby the dispensing of such liquid. can be controlled without spillage and without reference to the degree to which the can is canted. Other important advantages of the invention to be particularly noted are the simplicity and durability of the means .for clamping the device upon a can and the freedom from frictional resistance encountered between the guide Ill and slide l3.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention. what I claim.

as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In .an article for dispensing liquids from closed cans containing .the same, a clamp applicable to.a can and including a guide adapted to overlie the top thereof, said guide having a handle for manipulating saidclamo together with the can grasped thereby, said handle being adaptedto occupy a position adjacent to one side of the can,v a jaw-on said guide for engagement with said can at said side thereof, a slide mounted on the guide, and having a, jaw for engagement with said can at the opposite side thereof, means for relatively. adjusting said guide and slide to clamp said jaws against their respective sides of the can, a tapping member projecting from the face of the second jaw for piercing the corresponding side of the can in the process of engagement ofsaid second jaw therewith, a dispensing spout leading from said tappingmember, anair inlet tube arranged with its outer end portion extending through said handle and with its inner end portion extending through said first jaw and having a terminalportion projecting from the face of said first jaw, said outer end portion of said tube having arrair ingress opening disposed at a lo cality conveniently permitting the valving' thereof by afinger of the users hand holding said handie. said terminal portion of said tube being pointed to pierce the corresponding side of the can in the process of the engagement therewith of said first jaw, said tube being adapted to admit air to the interior 01 said can under the valvt ng action of the users finger.

2. In an article for dispensing liquids from closed cans containing the same, a clamp applicabie to a can and including a guide adapted to overlie the top thereof, said guide having a handle for manipulating said clamp together with the can'g'rasped thereby, a jaw on said guide for engagement with one side of said can, a slide mounted on the guide and having a jaw for engagement with said can at the opposite side thereof, means for relatively adjusting said guide and slide t0 clamp said jaws against their respective sides of the can, a tapping member projecting from the second jaw for piercing the corresponding side of the can, a dispensing spout leading from said tapping member, an air inlet tube having a terminal portion thereof projecting from said first jaw, the opposite end portion of said tube having an air ingress opening disposed at a locality conveniently admitting of the valving thereof by a finger of the users hand holding said handle, said terminal portion of said tube being formed at its extremity to pierce the corresponding side of the can and being adapted to admit air to the interior of said can under the valving action of the users finger.

3. In an article for dispensing liquids from closed cans containing the same, a clamp applicable to a can and having a handle issuing therefrom for manipulating said clamp together with the can grasped thereby, said handle being adapted to be grasped by a hand of the user with a. finger of such hand adjacent the junction between said handle and clamp, said clamp having a pair of tubular can-piercing members, one for the egress of liquid from the can and one for the ingress of air thereto, said latter member opening to the atmosphere near said junction to be valved by said finger, means for opening and closing the clamp, said means including a lever swingable away from the handle, upon the closing of the clamp, into a position unobstructing the access of said finger to said air ingress memher.

4. In a device for dispensing liquids from closed cans, an elongated clamp adapted to overlie the top of a can and including a guide and a slide telescopically connected together at the inner end portions thereof, a handle at the outer end of said guide, an abutment on said guide adjacent said handle for engagement with one side of the can, a tapping abutment on the outer end of said slide for engagement with the opposite side of the can, means for relatively adjusting said guide and slide to open and close the clamp and upon the closing of the same to bring said abutment and tapping member against their respective sides of the can to cause the latter to pierce said can, said adjusting means including a lever and a link, the lever consisting of a hand-piece and a pair of spaced arms extending therefrom, said arms being pivoted at their extremities to the inner end of said slide and enabling the lever to swing toward and from said handle, the link consisting of a channel-like member with depending flanges, said flanges being pivoted at one end of said link to the outer end of said guide, the other end of said link being received between the arms of said lever, said lever and link affording selective pivotal connections therebetween for adapting the device to cans of different sizes, said lever and link cooperating, upon the swinging of said lever away from said handle, to lead the slide along the guide and thus close the clamp and cooperating upon the swinging of said lever toward said handle to open the clamp, said link and lever being foldable against said guide and slide substantially to align said pivotal connections and thereby releasably lock the clamp closed, said means for affording selective pivotal connections between said lever and link consisting of a pin extending from one arm to the other of said lever and consisting further of successive pairs of downwardly opening bayonet slots in the flanges of said link, each pair of slots being adapted to receive said pin, each slot of each pair having a main reach with a biased side and a branch reach opposed to such side, the biased sides of the paired slots retaining said pin therein upon the swinging of said lever in one direction, the branch reaches of the paired slots retaining said pin therein upon the swinging of said lever in the other direction.

5. In a device for dispensing liquids from closed cans, an elongated clamp adapted to overlie the top of a can and including a guide and a slide telescopically connected together at the inner end portions thereof, a handle at the outer end of said guide, an abutment on said guide adjacent said handle for engagement with one side of the can, a tapping member on the outer end of said slide for engagement with the opposite side of the can, means for relatively adjusting said guide and slide to open and close the clamp and upon the closing of the same to bring said abutment and tapping member against their respective sides of the can to cause the latter to pierce said can, said adjusting means including a lever and a link, the lever being pivoted at one end on the inner end of said slide and swingable toward and from said handle, the link being pivoted at one end to the outer end of said guide, said lever and link aiiording selective pivotal con-. nections therebetween for adapting the device to cans of different sizes, said lever and link cooperating, upon the swinging of said lever away from said handle, to lead the slide along the guide and thus close the clamp and cooperating, upon the swinging of said lever toward said handle, to open the clamp, said link and lever being foldable against said guide and slide substantially to align said pivotal connections and thereby releasably lock the clamp closed, said means for afiording pivotal connections between said lever and link consisting of a pin on the lever and spaced bayonet slots in said link adapted selectively to receive said pin, said lever having a hand-piece at its free end and an opening between said handpiece and its pivoted end, the free end of said link being received in said opening, said hand-piece forming a stop for said lever engageable with said link to arrest the swinging of the lever toward said handle.

6. In a device for dispensing liquids from closed cans, an elongated clamp adapted to overlie the top of a can and including a guide and a slide telescopically connected together at the inner end portions thereof, a handle at the outer end of said guide, an abutment on said guide adjacent said handle for engagement with one side of the can, a tapping member on the outer end of said slide for engagement with the opposite side of the can, means for relatively adjusting said guide and slide to expand and to close the clamp and upon closing the same to bring said abutment and tapping member against their respective sides of the can to cause the latter to pierce said can, said adjusting means including a lever and a link, the lever being pivoted at one end on the inner end of said slide and swingable toward and from said handle, the link being pivoted at one end to the outer end of said guide, said lever and link affording selective pivotal connections therebetween for adapting the device to cans of different sizes, said lever and link cooperating, upon the swinging of said lever away from said handle, to lead the slide along the guide and thus close the clamp and cooperating, upon the swinging of said lever toward said handle, to open the clamp, said link and lever being foldable against said guide and slide substantially to align said pivotal connections and thereby releasably lock the clamp closed, said means for afiording selective pivotal connections between said lever and link consisting of a pin on the lever and spaced bayonet slots in said link, each slot having a main reach open at the bottom to receive said pin, the side of said main reach remote from said handle being upwardly biased away from said handle to retain the pin therein upon the swinging of the lever away from the handle, each slot further having a branch reach, opposed to the biased side of its main reach, to receive the pin from said main reach and retain the same in said slot upon the swinging of said lever toward said handle.

7. In a device for dispensing liquid from a closed can having a recessed top formed by a rim projecting from the top proper, a clamp adapted to be applied to the top of the can across the same, said clamp including a pair of relatively slidable elements, one end portion of one thereof superimposing one end portion of the other and telescopically connected therewith, said elements being adapted to rest upon said rim at opposite localities thereon with their telescopically connected portions above the recess in the can, an abutment mounted on one of said elements for engagement with one side of the can and a tapping member mounted on the other of said elements for engagement with the opposite side of the can, means carried by said elements for relatively adjusting the same to open the clamp and also to close the clamp and bring said abutment and tapping member against their respective sides of the can for causing the latter to pierce the can, said adjusting means including a lever adapted to be pressed downwardly toward the top of the can upon the closing of the clamp, the end portion of the one element superimposed by the end portion of the other element having a depending projection thereon received within said recess in the can and adapted to bear upon the top proper of said can to support said telescoping end portions of said elements against sagging and thereby prevent the binding of one relative to the other under pressure placed upon said lever.

CLAUDE E. WARFIELD. 

